Burnham will scrap digital ID to focus on cost of living

Andy Burnham will scrap Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship digital ID programme when he takes office on Monday.Mr Burnham’s team described the move as a “reset of priorities”, with money earmarked for implementing digital ID redirected to more “tangible” improvements to people’s lives.A spokesperson for the incoming prime minister said his Government would “put its focus where people need it right now”.They added: “That means all the time and resource that was going to be spent on a national ID scheme will go instead to where it’s most needed, such as helping with the cost of living.”Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his plans to introduce digital ID at the Global Progress Action summit in London last year as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA ArchiveThe Office for Budget Responsibility estimated last November that the programme would cost £1.8 billion over three years.Downing Street rejected this figure, but the Government did not provide an estimate of its own, which a parliamentary committed noted earlier this year left open the possibility it could cost more.Sir Keir announced plans to introduce digital ID ahead of last year’s Labour conference, saying it would be mandatory for right-to-work checks as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.Ministers expected the programme to go further, becoming the “bedrock of the modern state” in a system of “government by app”.But support for digital ID collapsed after Sir Keir announced the plans, and the Government later said it would be voluntary for right-to-work checks.Shadow technology secretary Julia Lopez said: “Labour have wasted millions of pounds on this project and now Andy Burnham is trying to pretend he’s riding to the rescue.“After pressure from the Conservatives, mandatory ID was already apparently off the table. Andy Burnham now needs to explain whether that was untrue, or whether he is simply claiming credit for a decision that had already been taken.Read More“Andy Burnham should stop the political theatre and be clear about what exactly he is scrapping. Only the Conservatives have the team and the plan to restore common sense to public policy.”Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: “This is a huge win for the Liberal Democrats and all those who have fought tooth and nail to stop the Government from pushing through its doomed mandatory digital ID scheme.“People will be hugely relieved to know they are no longer set to be forced to hand over their data just to go about their daily lives.“We have long said the obscene sums earmarked for digital ID would be a huge waste of taxpayers’ money, and it’s a relief that Burnham has woken up to that.”Jack Coulson, head of advocacy at Big Brother Watch, welcomed the decision, saying the public had been “clear that they do not want mandatory ID”.Ministers had seen digital ID as the foundation for a new system of ‘government by app’ (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA WireHe said: “The Government backing down shows what campaigns like Big Brother Watch’s can achieve”“But the dangers of a ‘papers please’ society have not gone away. Big Brother Watch is concerned that the Government’s approach to social media restrictions will lead to a de facto mandatory ID regime for the internet.“If this is a signal, it is a positive one, but we must all keep a wary eye on Tony Blair’s former ID card minister.”The decision marks the first major break from Sir Keir’s policies that Mr Burnham has confirmed before becoming prime minister.He is expected to provide further detail of his plans on Monday after visiting the Palace to “kiss hands” with the King and formally take over as prime minister.Allies have said he intends to make a “dynamic start” to his premiership and he is expected to use the speech to set out plans on the cost of living and highlight his core theme of devolving power from Whitehall to regions across the UK.Reports have suggested he could be preparing to break with another of Sir Keir’s policies and approve further oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which Mr Burnham has promised to honour, said the party would not issue new North Sea licences, arguing they would “not take a penny off bills” or improve energy security while accelerating climate change.But the incoming prime minister is said to be “open-minded” about the policy.He could claim not to be breaking the manifesto pledge by approving projects at the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, where licences have already been granted, while still not issuing any new licences.Green MP Adrian Ramsay urged him not to approve further drilling, saying it would be “exactly the wrong response and will do nothing to bring down energy bills”.Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch has criticised Mr Burnham for not setting out his plans before Monday, describing his comments so far as “airy-fairy stuff”.The Conservative leader told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg she thought Mr Burnham was “a people pleaser” rather than someone who would make “tough decisions”.Mr Burnham has pledged to reach out to other parties and end a culture of political “point scoring” at Westminster.But Mrs Badenoch said she would “score as many points as possible if it means the right thing for the country”.She added: “What I’m not going to do is give Andy Burnham a blank cheque. This is a man who doesn’t want scrutiny, he doesn’t want anyone asking him tough questions, he just wants to be a people pleaser.”